But life isn't particularly accommodating of that. We grow older. We need to find jobs, make money, and potentially raise families. The things we need to do often take away from what we want to do, and a perfect society where all of us could just live happily and do only what we wanted is about as possible as Pokemon becoming real.
It's just the way things are.
I will try to write these stories as long as I can. I do not intend to leave any unfinished, unresolved. No matter how long it takes, you will see the grand finale of University, even if it's years into the future.
As such, let's not waste any time and dive into the review reviews.
KedharS: Glad you enjoyed it! After this tournament arc though I will probably avoid them at all costs to avoid a repeat of my nightmarish hiatus.
Silver's C Jay: There will definitely be more evolutions! And yes, the lore is the best part.
coolhuh0526: It certainly has been a while. Nice long chapters are always great though!
I suppose that is an accurate comparison here. Was not the intent though.
Donovan is just really stressed and trying to hold the timeline together by the few threads it has left. Unfortunately, those threads are probably gonna snap.
I probably made Owen too easy to fight but it is what it is. Was about time for Ray to show how good he actually is anyways.
Yeah, Gregor was pretty unlucky there. Kyosha is very dangerously powerful though - we have barely scratched the surface here.
Well, any fight against Dravilius would probably be one-sided, and that one side is generally not his opponent's. And maybe it's because Dravilius just doesn't generally understand emotions.
Lol. Avery is indeed messed up.
Yeah…but banter is great, anyways.
I don't know, what has he done? Alastor is a fairly blank slate at the moment - he could've done anything.
Those are indeed interesting details. Hmmm…
Nice knowing you.
The story behind Deborah and Shaymin probably won't be answered for quite some time.
Shelly is terrifyingly smart and powerful. Soon enough we might learn why.
Yeah, that battle will shine a lot more light on Frederic. I bet you're gonna hate him.
Jeanne is indeed an interesting Pokemon!
And I'm afraid you might have to wait another few months after this chapter anyways. But I can't control life. Sadly.
Victor John Foxfire: Hah! You underestimate her arrogance!
Nah, Shelly was clever enough to realize Donovan knew far too much about his plans and started changing them. Poor Donovan might end up making things worse by trying and making them better. It is odd though, how selective he's being with not breaking the timeline…
It might not all have been illusion…
Sherman always acts like that when he loses. Losing to Dravilius just makes it multiple times worse.
Hmm…interesting, truly interesting…
Nice theory but Barbara is not going to be Alastor just so she can spite you. Sorry, that's just how she is.
Maybe, but Jason doesn't exactly have Dravilius levels of money.
As if he didn't feel the need to train harder already…
Oh yes, Shelly still has some surprises in store.
Nah, Dravilius keeps his Gimmighoul coins safely locked elsewhere. He loves sorting coins in his free time - our dragon kid is very dragonish indeed.
MaMcMu: For a little bit.
Guest: Only two? Nice.
For Jennifer I will admit she is my personal character, and I do also admit that her Smeargle is broken. I have not done a good job of explaining the counter-balance to it and that's on me.
As for Ray versus Owen I do have reasons for that beyond making Ray look good. Those reasons will come to light later on.
For Camp Pokemon and Legendborn, I wouldn't say they were better. They all fill their own niches, and I did the best I could with them. And while they may both be on indefinite hiatus at the moment, I have not forgotten them and I have certainly not given up on them. One day I will give them full rewrites, using all I have learned to make them the very best they can be.
AnonChan1: No worries, I definitely did!
Yeah, Victoria's past is very intriguing and confusing. We'll just have to see how, and why. And Zoyle wasn't gonna stay hidden forever.
Alas, Donovan is very stubborn and is probably not gonna change his attitude towards this even though it hurts him.
Yeah, Owen was pretty unlucky here. Ray was holding back a lot and has many more tricks up his sleeves.
What fourth wall? Alastor already broke it.
And yeah Ray is in big trouble.
Yes, that is Sherman's thing there, glad to see someone noticed! His character was very in-depth and I don't show it enough.
I guarantee you'll get some Avery answers in this chapter. Which ones though…hmmm…
The Kea battle was very fun, and your live reaction even more so! Glad you liked it so much even if they did lose.
Winona really had it bad here…let's see if it gets worse.
Yup, Barbara is the incarnation of spite.
Yeah, Eliot would've been disqualified for that. Poor kid.
Deborah's Shaymin has been a big help for her, though the details for that shall remain a mystery.
Shelly does what Shelly does. To try to understand it is about as possible as understanding Dravilius.
An excellent observation! And yes, Frederic's brutality is pretty different from Shelly's - and not in a good way.
Yup, poor Gwendolyn. I just love tormenting the girl. And yes, U'ilani's love for dogs is probably gonna be her key defining trait at this point.
Omesta: I promise I will help Owen get much stronger, at some point. Hopefully. And I will see if I can't arrange that.
As for that question…we'll just have to see, won't we?
Rescue Wolf: Maybe…Vanessa is gonna be quite intriguing.
Donovan isn't on Daniel's radar yet, I'm afraid.
Anything Alastor does is creepy.
Dravilius is Dravilius.
To spite people, that's why.
We'll see about that soon enough…
Anyways, that's all of them! Let's dive into this chapter, where many major things are gonna come to light…(-o-)
Asher found Winona outside the Reserve, lying flat on the ground. The sky was turning orange from the sunset, a thin trail of smoke from the island's volcano weaving through the air. Winona was simply planted into the dirt, her face buried so no one could see it.
"Are you okay?", asked Asher, although they already suspected the answer.
"Go away.", Winona said, her voice muffled by the dirt.
Asher sat down near her, a concerned look upon her face.
"You can tell me about it.", Asher said reassuringly, "I won't tell anyone else if you don't want me to. But there's no way I'm gonna let you suffer whatever is happening to you alone."
Winona sighed and rolled over, her coat and clothes stained brown from the mud. Her glasses were crooked, and she didn't bother adjusting them.
"I believe…", she muttered, "I have been mind-controlled."
She stared at Asher, as if expecting to be ridiculed. But Asher's eyes were only filled with concern.
Winona explained, "It's that one guy. Alastor. Whenever I'm near him, my brain gets weird, blurry, as if there's some interference. I forget stuff, I get convinced to do stuff…I do stuff I would never intend to do. I don't know if he's using a Psychic Pokemon to mess with me or what, but it's ruining me."
Asher frowned. "Should we talk to the authorities about this? Using Psychic Pokemon to manipulate human minds is strictly illegal under the third article of the Improper Use of Pokemon Statute-"
Winona interrupted, "Unfortunately, it isn't that. Alastor doesn't officially HAVE any Psychic Pokemon. Whatever he's doing, it's something different. Something not documented. And it's too late. He's made me do things. My Pokemon, they're walking test subjects right now. As for me…"
She rolled up her sleeve, revealing a series of bandages. "They've injected me with something. And until I know what it is, I can't do anything to stop them."
Asher felt pale. "That…that's awful! You can't let them continue this! There has to be something we can do."
Winona sighed and closed her eyes. "I hope so, I really hope so. Right now I only have questions and no real ways of getting answers. All the science equipment I could test my blood with or develop a defense against that mind control are in the labs. I can't access it without him knowing, and I have no idea what he'd do to me if I did."
Asher frowned, their mind churning over ideas. Perhaps if Asher could sneak in, they could run a test of Winona's blood without anyone getting suspicious…but no, they were a part of the Sensei's organization, the Doctor's main rivals. And while Asher had kept it mostly secret it was clear Alastor knew things he shouldn't. He had namedropped a lot of people who were aligned, and probably knew Asher's allegiances.
Maybe they could sneak in at night…but no, that wouldn't work either. There was inevitably gonna be surveillance cameras and there were no doubt loads of people on the night shift. There was no way to run a proper blood test that way either.
Winona seemed to recognize how Asher was trying to find a solution. "It's no use.", she said, "I already thought of everything. All we can do is wait and see."
She sighed. "It is going to be quite difficult to avoid Alastor, however. I suppose I can ask for your help in this particular instance…as long as you don't tell Nancy. I couldn't stand it if she knew about this."
Asher felt a bit frustrated there. Winona was probably full of chemicals, getting mind-controlled by some weird creepy guy, and THAT was what she was worried about!?
All Asher said, however, was, "Don't worry, no one else will know unless you want them to know. There's this underground city thing here, I could probably chart it out…"
Winona looked intrigued. "An underground city!? I never saw any mention of that anywhere!"
Asher replied, "It definitely isn't common knowledge. I've been exploring and studying it in my spare time. It is very large and fascinating, although I haven't deciphered the symbols yet."
'All this with the Sensei's permission and knowledge.', they thought.
Winona's eyes lit up with something Asher knew all too well - a scientist's thirst for knowledge and discovery.
"Show me.", she demanded.
"It would be my pleasure!", Asher chirped.
The two walked off, heading towards one of Asher's first major discoveries - an alternate hidden entrance near the beach. Asher was very excited to show their discoveries to another aspiring scientist - so much so they nearly forgot the terrifying discoveries Winona had unveiled.
In a nearby tree, a young man lowered his hand, his glowing eyes returning to normal. His lips curled into a fearsome smile.
"Oh, how very unwise.", Alastor said cruelly. "There is no hiding from me." (-o-)
Evan sat on a bench outside the University Pokemon Center, waiting for them to finish healing up and checking on his Pokemon. He couldn't stop thinking about Barbara, who had out-tricked and out-battled him, yet forfeited right as it was about to be over. He had moved on in the tournament, but it stung. It didn't feel like he deserved it. It felt as if she had done to mock him.
He found himself fiddling with the odd Dragonite pendant. He still did not understand it and its purpose. Not to mention how creepy it was, how it had activated of its own accord and turned him into a dragon to fight that monstrous Beedrill thing. He wondered if there were answers hiding in that old ruin. But they couldn't check until the next catching expedition, which was months from now.
He heard clicking heels approaching, and hastily slipped the pendant under his shirt. He looked up, expecting to see Doctor Azalea coming to let him know his Pokemon were healed. But much to his surprise, it was none other than the Queen, that silent young man Oscar, and…a face Evan knew all too well.
"Aha, I found you!", declared the girl. She was somewhat tall, with dark brown skin matching his own, long black hair braided into dreadlocks, and warm chocolatey eyes that could melt anyone she gazed at with them. She was wearing a short red crop top and long black sports pants, as well as top-of-the-line running shoes. This showed off her well-toned muscles, which Evan knew she loved to show off.
"Uh, hi Eden!", Evan greeted, a little surprised to see her here accompanied by one of the Legends, "I guess you found me."
Eden grinned and booped her twin brother on the nose. "Glad to see you're doing great! That Barbara lady was very nasty, glad to see she's out of the tournament! No one else seems to fight in her cruel style so I'm sure you're gonna do great from now on!"
Evan shrugged. "I suppose." He looked towards the two accompanying her. "What are those two doing with you?"
Eden answered, "Oh, those are two of my friends! Tamika and Oscar. We started university together and our interests quickly aligned."
Oscar gave a short nod. Tamika smirked at Evan's astonished look.
"But, how?", asked Evan, "She's one of the freaking Five Legends!"
Tamika answered, "Just because I'm one of the Five Legends doesn't mean I can't make friends. Eden and I have been besties for ages!"
"Come on, Evan, it's not that weird.", Eden said, looking at his very alarmed face, "This whole Legends thing is simply just some like-minded friend groups spiraling way beyond anyone expected. You can blame that weird Emperor dude for that, thank goodness he's gone."
Oscar gave a stiff nod.
"The Emperor?", asked Evan, "There was a sixth Legend?"
Tamika shook her head. "It's a long complicated story that I'm not gonna bore you with right now. You've moved to the next bracket in the tournament! Isn't that epic? I mean, I dislike those archaic violent battles, but I know loads of you enjoy them."
Evan shrugged. "I guess so."
Eden frowned and patted him. "Awwww, don't be so gwumpy! You got this baby brother!"
Evan's cheeks warmed. "Eden, don't do that!", he complained, "It's embarrassing! And I'm not your baby brother, you're literally only older by a couple minutes!"
Eden giggled. "Okay, if you say so."
Tamika looked at her watch and frowned. "Sorry, Eden, but it looks like I've got some business to take care of. See you tomorrow."
Eden nodded. "Always! Go have fun doing whatever you need to."
Tamika nodded, then she and Oscar walked away.
"Does that guy even talk?", asked Evan, staring at Oscar's back.
Eden shrugged. "Who knows? Certainly not whenever I'm around. Definitely the tall, silent, mysterious type though. Tamika seems to like that."
Evan nodded. "I guess so."
The two were silent for a minute.
"Sorry for not checking up on you sooner.", Eden apologized, "I have a lot of friends and we are always so busy so it's hard to find any room in my schedule. Has university life been treating you okay?"
Evan shrugged. "I suppose. Jason is pretty cool. Haven't talked to my other roommates much though. Eliot is so scared of everything and Owen doesn't talk very much."
"This is why I need to show up more!", Eden exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air, "At least you have one friend, but without me I doubt that number is gonna get higher!"
Evan's eyes widened. "Hang on, wait-"
Eden whirled around and pointed at him. "You, my little brother, are gonna get some extra friends extra soon! And I know exactly what to do!"
Evan groaned. "I don't suppose it involves going to my room and working on my computer, does it?"
"You spend way too much time with that hunk of metal.", Eden said, "Come on! I know the perfect place." (-o-)
Said perfect place turned out to be the Champion Rest Stop. There was loud music throbbing from within it, and multicolored lights shone out from every window. A giant banner hung above the door, declaring "Welcome Freshman Cup Competitors!"
"They're having a party?", asked Evan.
"Every tournament they have one.", Eden replied, "Attracts loads of people and therefore loads of Pokedollars. Can't exactly blame them for that. Now come on! Let's see who's inside!"
She pushed open the doors and strode in triumphantly, and Evan sighed and followed her in.
Inside there were loads of students, chatting and laughing and eating and dancing. The Pokemon battle field had turned into a dance floor, and everyone there was partying to DJ Dustin's music. He was really playing with the sound system behind the bar, his Vanilluxe creating ice cream cone after ice cream cone. There was also a Loudred and an Alolan Exeggutor now, dancing to the beat.
"Heyo, future champ!", Dustin greeted, waving at Evan, "Ice cream is on the house for you! Go get some and then go party your heart out!"
Eden smiled flirtatiously. "Mind if I get in on that discount? I am his older sister after all."
Dustin blushed. "Oh, uh…yeah, go for it."
"You're so sweet.", Eden purred as Sherbet the Vanilluxe whipped up an ice cream for her, "Sweet as this cherry on the top." She plucked the cherry off her ice cream and sucked on it seductively.
Dustin blushed harder. Evan felt somewhat embarrassed. Why was his sister always like this!?
"Come on, let's go check this party out!", Eden declared, dragging her brother along with her into the crowd. Dustin waved as they went, still flushing bright red.
Evan followed along somewhat reluctantly, especially when he realized he hadn't gotten his free ice cream yet. Eden dragged him to a table right in the center of the restaurant, where there was no hiding from the crowd.
"Alright, we're here!", Eden declared, "Now we gotta strike up some conversations!"
"Do we have to…?", Evan moaned.
"YES.", Eden declared.
She started looking around, and Evan wondered how he was gonna sneak away from this. Then he spotted it.
"Hey, Jason!", he called, "Over here! I need to escape my sister!"
In the crowd, Jason looked up from whoever he was talking to, and smiled with recognition. "Heh, alright!"
Jason walked over, accompanied by two people. One was a young girl, with long black hair, bright green eyes, and an oddly familiar purple bracelet. The other was a tall, well-tanned man, wearing an unbuttoned lab coat over a pair of Alolan shorts and his bare muscles. He grinned and shot a finger gun at Evan, before straightening his orange-tinted sunglasses.
Evan recognized that guy immediately. After all, no one else had won the Hottest Professor Award five times in a row.
"Professor Kukui!?", he spluttered.
"The one and only!", Kukui replied cheerfully.
"And this here is my sister Jasmine.", Jason introduced, gesturing to the girl beside him.
"Hi!", she greeted.
Eden looked astonished. "Professor Kukui! I didn't expect to see you here!"
Kukui chuckled. "I couldn't miss the opportunity to watch Jason in the tournament! You're Eden, right?"
"Uh, yeah, how did you-", Eden replied.
"You look just like your mother!", Kukui declared, "Scarlett and I are old friends. Course, we haven't chatted much lately, but ah well. No better time than now to rebuild connections, eh?"
"I suppose so.", Eden replied sheepishly.
Kukui looked back to Evan. "And of course, you're Evan! One of our wonderful competitors! Everyone is talking about your battle!"
"And how I got thrashed by that Barbara girl, right?", he sighed.
"A little.", Kukui admitted, "But mostly about how well you stood your ground! Many Trainers, they'd give up before you. Such toxic strategies are no fun to fight, after all! But you. You held against that assault! You never stopped trying, and maintained faith in your Pokemon to the bitter end! And now look. You moved forwards in the bracket and get to fight Jason here!"
Jason nodded. "I've been looking forwards to this rematch. We've both gotten stronger since our first battle. I wanna see if things go differently this time!"
He patted his bandaged ear. "Besides, I want to fight a real challenge, and one without angry money hoarders. And I know you're more than capable of giving me that challenge!"
Evan grinned. "You bet!"
Eden sighed. "This is cool and all, but we came here to make new friends, not talk with the old one?"
Kukui chuckled. "Do I not count?"
"Well, uh, I mean…", replied Eden, looking awkward.
"Hey look, you've got a similar bracelet to me!", Jasmine exclaimed, pointing towards Eden's wrist.
Sure enough, Eden had a orange bracelet much like Jasmine's purple one. However, hers had a sun symbol, while Jasmine had a moon one.
"Well of course!", Kukui declared, "I got both of them from Scarlett, you know. Twins she called them. She gave one to me for Jasmine here, while Eden received the other one. A little connection between our families!"
"Huh.", commented Eden, "Odd."
"Mom never told us anything.", Evan grumbled.
Kukui replied, "I'm sure she had her reasons. And I'm sure she'll tell you all about them in due time, seeing as you are her kids."
"When do you think that'll be?", asked Eden, "Like, I'm a full-grown woman!"
Kukui shrugged. "Distortion if I know. She never told me much either. Pretty sure Tasha knows, though."
"Yeah, and we haven't heard from her since she got that fancy ranger job in Paldea.", Eden stated saltily.
Jasmine asked, "When you learn the big secrets, can you tell me too? I wanna know!"
Eden chuckled. "Of course! Maybe. Possibly. In a few years. When I'm old and senile."
Jasmine huffed and crossed her arms. "Fine. I'll wait that whole time if I have to!"
Jason nodded. "She is very good at remembering this kind of stuff."
The music changed, and Eden perked up. "Ooh, I love this song! Hang on, I gotta go find someone to dance with! Don't go anywhere!"
And she zipped off, leaving Evan alone with Jasmine, Jason, and Kukui.
"Your sister seems cool.", Jasmine commented.
"Sometimes. Most of the time she's aggravating.", Evan said.
Jason smiled and nodded. "I know what that's like."
Jasmine glared at him. "You're not talking about me, right? Right?"
Jason whistled cheerfully. Kukui had to stop himself from laughing.
Evan smiled softly. It was clear these guys were a chill family. It made him miss his own, even with Eden here. After all, she had already built a giant friend circle and hadn't really made time to talk with him until recently. It was a little sad to think about, really.
"Hey Evan, you alright?"
Jason was looking at him, a little concerned.
"Eh, I'm fine. Just thinking.", Evan replied.
Jason nodded. "Say, you want to go get some ice cream? It's free."
Evan grinned. "You bet! Quickly, before Eden gets back!"
The two zipped off, leaving Jasmine and Kukui behind at the table. The song promptly ended, and Eden walked over. She frowned.
"Darn it, he ran away huh.", she grumbled.
Jasmine nodded. "Yup. Wanna play Street Trainer?"
Eden grinned. "Sure thing!"
The two girls ran off, and now it was just Kukui at the table. He sighed sadly. "Now why don't I ever get someone to run off with?" (-o-)
Ray sat in the now-empty stadium benches, running plans through his head.
'Kyosha is a Water-type Trainer, so I need to counter that somehow. Mona and that Dugtrio won't be any help here, so I'm gonna have to beat six mons with four.', he thought, 'Damn, it's always Water-types isn't it? Every single freaking time…'
Then he heard footsteps approaching, and sighed. He turned around in the seat and noticed Artemis strutting down, the almost night-time sky shrouding her in darkness.
"Hello Bray.", she purred, a devilish grin to rival Alastor's on her face.
Ray looked around and asked, "Where's Gran at?"
"Oh, she's busy with something.", Artemis said, "Besides, it would be no fun if she was here. I can't do anything when she's around!"
"For good reason.", Ray muttered.
Artemis pouted. "Come on! I'm your little sister!"
Ray replied, "Yes, but you are also my little pain in the a-"
She covered his mouth with her hand. "Hey, there are little girls present!", she mocked teasingly.
Ray pulled her hand off his face. "Ugh! Come on, that's exactly what I'm talking about! Besides, you swear all the freaking time!"
"Only when Granny isn't present. After all, it's NSFOE.", she said.
Ray rose an eyebrow.
"Not Suitable For Old Ears.", she explained, grinning.
Ray rolled his eyes in exasperation.
"An-y-ways…", she said, sliding into the seat next to him, "I'm here on business."
"Oh Arceus.", Ray muttered, bracing himself for what she was about to say. When Artemis was on 'business', it was never gonna turn out well for him.
She smiled maliciously. "So I was watching the battles…"
"Who wasn't?", Ray muttered, attracting a glare from her.
"And I was interested by one battle in particular.", she continued, "Barbara versus whoever that kid was. Best fight of them all! But since she forfeited for some stupid reason someone else needs to stand up and mess with all the battles. And who better than you, dear brother?"
"No.", Ray replied, standing up.
"Aww, come on! Why not? Do it for the funny!", she complained.
"No.", Ray repeated, walking away.
Artemis followed after him. "Look, no one else is gonna do it and I know you're more than smart enough to be able to troll everyone! Do it for me, your sister!"
"No.", Ray replied, "Stop it before I tell Gran."
Artemis huffed. "Rude!"
Then she booted up her phone and pushed it into his face. "How about this? You mess with everybody you battle, and these pictures won't magically appear all over the internet."
Ray looked at her phone, his eyes scrolling through the images. His face turned bright white.
"Do we have a deal?", Artemis purred.
Ray growled, "I really hate you sometimes."
"But do we have a deal?", asked Artemis.
Ray groaned. "Yes. Fine. Just don't post those."
"I love it when you do what I want!", Artemis chirped.
Ray sighed. "Not that you gave me any choice."
Artemis started running off ahead. "Welp, see ya Bray! Make a good show for me tomorrow…or I will make a good show of YOU."
She cackled maniacally as she vanished, and Ray pressed his face into his hands.
"Why…" (-o-)
Stewart Ironheart was many things. He was big, strong, and tough. He was the second of the Nine Warriors, beaten only by Robin and then Esper herself. He was stubborn, he was kind, he was a senior, he was a prince.
But tonight, he was only a worried older brother.
He hadn't seen Frederic in ages. For all he'd known, the kid was dead - one of many victims to that institute. Most of the family hadn't even blinked an eye - to them, he was a freak, a killer in the making. They had willingly sold him over to the scientists as soon as they heard there was an institution established for those with unnatural abilities.
Unwanted, dangerous abilities.
Stewart and his uncle Fitzroy had been the only ones to resist it. An institute like that wasn't gonna 'cure' anything. It was a prison, built for those who didn't fit in. And when Frederic was sent away, it had made a permanent wedge between Stewart, Fitzroy, and the rest of the family.
Fitzroy had ran away ages ago, marrying some woman from Alola and settling down there, about as far away from Galar as you could get. Stewart was too young, and his only means of escape had been the University. But his time was almost up. Next year, he was gonna have to pursue some career, and he knew his toxic family would be trying to reel him back into their affairs.
Stewart was many things, but being brave enough to fight his family wasn't one of them.
He stood atop a hill overlooking the beach, the light of the stars twinkling over the waves. It was a new moon tonight - perfectly dark and empty. Much like Stewart imagined his brother was at this point.
He was top of his class, good with his Pokemon, very rich and well-off, and very popular. To most people, he was the epitome of success.
To himself, he was the greatest failure Arceus could have created.
And yet, somehow, fate had brought Frederic back. He was here, at the University, training alongside the other students and would remain here until the summer. It was as if Arceus had sensed Stewart's great regret, and had given him a second chance.
A second chance Stewart refused to waste.
He turned towards the campus, and wondered where Frederic would be. He doubted it would be anywhere near people, so that ruled out the central part of it. Frederic could potentially be in his dorm, but Stewart didn't know where that was. Maybe he could be training, or -
"So. This is where you went after I was gone."
Or he could be right behind him.
Stewart turned, his steely-gray eyes staring into Frederic's frosty cold ones. The two were of similar height now, although Stewart still stood higher.
"Frederic.", Stewart greeted awkwardly, "I missed you."
"Save it.", Frederic growled, "If you missed me, you would've looked for me. If you truly cared, you would've come after those monsters and saved me from them. But you never did, did you? You were content to leave me to rot in that place."
Stewart, somewhat taken aback, replied, "You know they wouldn't have let me. Our father is king of Galar. If I tried to come after you, he would've stopped me."
"Would he have? Do you seriously think that uncaring old man would have bothered? He never cared for us. All he dreamed of was gold and power.", Frederic snarled, "He married mother only because she was princess. Children were only an annoying condition to get what he wanted. And as soon as said children started showing signs of mother's gift, as soon as they were not perfect little ordinary servants, he cast them away and rejected them."
Stewart sighed and closed his eyes. "I was young then, Frederic. I wasn't strong, I wasn't brave. I couldn't have come after you even if I tried, even if father would have ignored it, which he would not have. You are letting anger cloud your judgment. If you would just calm down-"
"Calm down!?" Frederic scoffed. "I was locked there for two years. They tortured me, experimented on me, locked me away like a wild Pokemon to be feared and hated. They didn't test on people there, Stewart. They tested on monsters. Learning how to fight us, kill us, CONTROL us…but you didn't know any of that, did you? You never bothered to learn the truth. You were content to sit in your luxurious room with your books and your Pokemon and your friends, never caring about the brother you left to rot."
His eyes were glowing now, and frost was creeping up his arms. Stewart tensed up, knowing that this could go very bad very quickly.
"Frederic, leaving you there was the worst mistake I ever made. I am sorry.", Stewart whispered.
"Sorry!?", Frederic shouted, his hair whipping up as a freezing breeze started blowing past, "You haven't even BEGUN to feel sorry!"
He charged at Stewart, frozen blades appearing off his wrists. Stewart quickly crossed his arms in front of him, which hardened like steel. Frederic's ice blades shattered upon contacting them. Looking at Frederic's face, Stewart knew that this was a grave mistake.
Frederic's frosty eyes froze completely solid, filled with cold anger and determination. "You have them too.", he said quietly, "You have them too. And they never locked you away."
"I can explain…", Stewart began.
"THE TIME FOR EXPLANATION IS OVER!", roared Frederic. A frozen aura whipped up around him, his power flaring to full strength to mirror his wrath, "I HATE YOU!"
Stewart focused his own aura, steely energy shimmering around him. His own anger was building, Frederic's refusal to see reason fueling the fire.
"Oh really? Come on then! If you won't see reason, then I suppose I'll have to communicate to you in your chosen manner!", Stewart yelled.
The brothers roared, lunging towards each other. Frederic slashed away at Stewart, his icy blades stabbing into him, each one a piece of the resentment he had nurtured for seven years. Meanwhile, Stewart fought back with iron punches and steel skin, his mind and body fortified from years of disciplining his power and burying his emotions.
Every strike the two made was filled with purpose and fury, their auras blazing into the night. Stewart struck Frederic down, sending him rolling down the hill, but Frederic summoned a wall of ice to catch him. With a defiant cry, he shattered the wall of ice, firing the shards into Stewart. As Stewart hardened his skin and absorbed the blows, Frederic threw himself towards him, screaming out his agony and hatred.
Stewart attempted to counter the strike, but Frederic fainted, taking out Stewart's legs and knocking him to the ground. As Stewart tried to get back up, Frederic grabbed him, lifting him high into the air and then throwing him back down. Stewart grunted with pain, and Frederic ground his foot into his back.
But then Stewart focused his aura, and a bunch of iron spikes burst from his back. Frederic cried out in pain, falling back to the ground. Blood dripped from his shoe, and Frederic's eyes turned even more murderous.
His fists hardened into frozen maces, and he slammed them into Stewart, who fell to one knee. Stewart quickly recovered though, and stabbed forward with one of his steel blades. Frederic blocked it with his fists, and thrust them into Stewart's chest - a fatal blow if he had not hardened his skin at the last second.
The two brothers continued to grapple, until suddenly a burst of purple energy threw them away from each other voice as a commanding voice boomed, "ENOUGH!"
Stewart and Frederic looked up to see a certain young woman, enveloped in a glowing aura. Her eyes burned blue through her bird mask, and she was clearly very displeased.
"Do you WANT them to find us again!?", Esper snarled, "Do you WANT them to have adequate reason to fear us again!? Do you two have ANY idea what you almost did!?"
She pointed towards the campus. "There are hundreds of potential witnesses there, who know nothing but horror stories and nightmares! And if they saw you two trying to kill each other, wouldn't that just make things worse?!"
She pointed towards the sky, where a helicopter was flying in. "Look there! That is none other than Lysandre himself! I don't know why he's come, but of all the people you don't want learning that we're still alive it is HIM!"
Frederic and Stewart both looked cowed. The auras around them faded, although their newfound resentment did not.
"I don't know what history you two have, and frankly I don't care!", Esper shouted, "You are not going to fight it out publicly, and you are especially not gonna fight it out here! Go on, split, and don't let me catch you at it again! And I will ALWAYS catch it, I am the most powerful psychic here!"
Frederic and Stewart gave each other one more glare, then stormed off in opposite directions. Esper watched them until they were gone, then sighed.
"Is this what will happen when I find Kevin and Natasha…?" (-o-)
Principal Stiffren had always known running an academy for gifted students across the world of Pokemon was going to be an interesting experience. After all, everything was possible when it came to these magical creatures.
As such, very little surprised him anymore.
Yet this tournament seemed Distortion-bent on proving differently.
From just the first round alone, they'd had Smeargles smiting people from above, Shuckles breaking every law of physics, a Bidoof that had knocked out Grant and his Pokemon with just a glance, a Shaymin of all things, some cute weird alien dragon, and who knew what else. Who knew what else this tournament had to show them?
He couldn't help but remember those words he had heard so many years before.
"When the youths you care for reveal untold power, that is when it will begin…"
"The beginning of the end..."
At the time, he had dismissed those words as the ramblings of an old mad woman. Now though, he wasn't so sure. And it worried him to no end.
She had said more, he remembered that much, but the memories were eluding him. It was as if they were being locked away until the events they described came to pass.
And if they did come to pass, well…he knew that it wouldn't turn out well for anyone.
He sighed and leaned back in his comfortable Tauros leather chair, looking around his office. Pictures of all the students he had ever taught stared down at him, a whole spectrum of emotions and stories and characters.
Stiffren had taught for a long time, longer than most. Almost every current champion had once walked these halls, every major celebrity of any type had often awakened their talent here. Stiffren had watched every one of them with great interest, celebrating their successes and mourning their failures. A million different lives spilled out from here, each one a full story of their own.
Stiffren wondered what stories would be told this year.
There was a knocking at the door, and Stiffren sat up. "Come in."
Pushing open the door with a weary hand was Professor Boris. "Zacharias, there's a helicopter from Lysandre Labs flying in. I believe we should be there to greet them."
Stiffren nodded. "Of course, Boris. I will be there with you shortly."
"Dinner at nine?", Boris asked.
"Wouldn't dream of missing it.", Stiffren said, a warm smile coming to his face even though he knew Boris could no longer see it.
Then he strode out onto the campus grounds and made his way to the small airfield located outside the harbor.
The airfield didn't seem much use - most Flying-type Pokemon could land just about wherever they wanted safely, so it was mostly a formality. After all, hardly anyone used or could afford a flying vehicle. As such this helicopter was a display of wealth and power - both things Lysandre had lots of.
When he arrived at the airfield, Stiffren noticed that there were already some people there. There was Hera, Ray's grandmother; Cynthia, her eyes stormy and unreadable; Tamika, the 'Queen' and her silent boyfriend Oscar; and lastly, Xavius, the 'Doctor'.
Stiffren and the Five Legends had an…interesting relationship. These five strange students had very unusual amounts of power and control over the school, and all five had negotiated contracts with Stiffren to allow them to persist in their activities unmolested.
After all, what was the worst they could do? The Emperor had taught all of them that to abuse their power was to make themselves enemies of everyone, and the Emperor's experiments had hopefully taught them that there were some things that shouldn't be tampered with.
At least, Stiffren hoped so. There was no telling what they did in their secret lairs.
As the helicopter descended, the air displaced from its blades whipping through Stiffren's carefully combed hair and neat suit, he stepped ahead of the small gathering. Once it landed, the side door slid open, and the imposing figure that was Lysandre strode out, his orange eyes carefully looking over everyone.
"Welcome back, Lysandre!", greeted Stiffren, "It has been quite some time since we saw you last. What brings you here?"
Lysandre smiled softly. "I heard Ray was competing in your tournament, and simply had to come watch. I am sorry that I missed the first round, my chief scientist has made a major breakthrough that I had to check on first. How has he been faring?"
Stiffren chuckled. "While it wouldn't do to pick favorites, he is one of the finest students we've had yet. Top of all his classes, and always ready for the next one."
Lysandre nodded. "I expected nothing less from him. He's on the road to success, that boy. One day he may even surpass me."
Stiffren smiled. "Won't that be something."
Lysandre noticed the others gathered around. "Huh, I wasn't expecting a welcome party."
Tamika smiled. "Surprise!"
Xavius said, "I am here to discuss some…business matters."
Stiffren rose an eyebrow. "Really now?"
Xavius did not elaborate. Stiffren noticed, however, that there was a faint light rising behind his dark glasses. He also felt a strange sense of foreboding.
There was a strange beeping from Lysandre's belt, and the red-haired man uncapped a strange device looking like a cross between a stun gun and a handheld radio.
"What is that thing?", asked Tamika, frowning.
Cynthia glared at it. "Why on earth did you need to bring that here?"
Lysandre seemed to finally recognize her presence. "Ah, Cynthia. How very…pleasant to see you again." His tone had turned stiff and cold.
Stiffren realized there was some tension between the two. He wondered why the leader of the biggest corporation in Kalos and the Sinnoh champion were at odds with each other. It seemed like a very strange rivalry.
Cynthia growled, "If you think I'm gonna let you bring that tracker around and judge innocent students with it, then you thought wrong. As long as I'm here, these children are under my protection."
Lysandre gave her a knowing look. "Of course you would."
He pointed the tracker towards her, and it beeped louder. "After all, you're one of the few they let roam free."
"What are you even talking about?", asked Tamika, frowning.
Stiffren had picked up on what was being said however, and frowned. "That, my dear, is nothing any of you kids will have to worry about."
He waved dismissively towards her, Oscar, and Xavius. "Why don't you three go get some dinner or something while us adults have a discussion?"
Tamika gave him a dark look. "You all are hiding something."
Xavius looked towards her. "That may be the case, dearest Queen, but we might as well let them be. There is no point in trying to argue with those above us in power. But perhaps, on our way out you and I could have ourselves a little chat."
Tamika turned and gave him a suspicious glare. "We haven't spoken in months. What do you want from me?"
Xavius looked towards the adults, and gave a slight unnerving smile. "That is something I would prefer to discuss in a more private setting."
Tamika huffed. "Perhaps I would be willing to listen…in a different time, a different place. I believe you know what I mean." She gave him a defiant stare, crossing her arms.
Xavius's face darkened. "Of all the others, you are the one I respect most. But it appears that there is no undoing what has passed, is there? There may come a time though, Tamika, where you may regret not listening to me."
He turned and strode away, a feeling of lightning crackling through the air, a bitter emotion that left Stiffren feeling a strange mix of sadness and anger.
He noticed Cynthia and Hera watching as Xavius left, their eyes focused. They could sense something else - something he didn't, but something he already knew.
Tamika gave one last arrogant huff, before turning and walking away herself. Oscar followed diligently behind her, occasionally glancing back towards the silent adults.
Once they were all gone, Stiffren said in a less friendly tone, "The Aura War ended seven years ago. The auraspeakers are gone. There is no need for there to be hostilities."
"They are not gone.", said Cynthia. Her eyes settled onto Lysandre. "But they are not hiding everywhere like Gengar, waiting to jump out at the last moment!"
Lysandre growled, "Do you not understand? It has been five years since they escaped their prison! Five years since their ultimatum!"
"The prison you built.", snarled Cynthia, her eyes humming with restrained anger, "The prison you trapped innocents in, tortured innocents in. The prison that has only increased their grievances with the rest of humanity!"
"Like you?", asked Lysandre coldly, "Whose side are you on now, Cynthia? Being champion will not save you if we find reason to think you may turn on us."
Cynthia looked outraged. "You accuse me of treason?! I have done nothing but good for our world! Your paranoia and anger, on the other hand - that is what will destroy us!"
Lysandre looked red, and it was more than just his hair and clothing. "You know nothing of the sacrifices I have made to protect our people! It was my technology that allowed us to defeat and contain them in the first place! Without me, this world would have crumbled into chaos and oblivion years ago!"
Stiffren looked between the members of the growing shouting match, feeling helpless to stop it. But then Hera stepped up in-between the two, her face stormy.
"You two are behaving like children!", she shouted, "This fighting only divides us. It does not even matter whether the auraspeakers exist or not. What matters is that we treat each other civilly and respectfully, and do not argue over pointless things. We are at a school, to watch the next generation compete in a tournament. We are not here to fight over a war that may or may not have ended seven years ago or make baseless accusations. Why not put aside our differences for two nights and just simply enjoy the tournament?"
Lysandre and Cynthia gave each other fierce looks, but neither resumed the fighting.
Stiffren smiled, although it was a little forced. "Thank Arceus for that.", he said, "Now shall we make our way to Oranguru Hall and continue our night in a nicer fashion?"
No one argued, and he turned to walk back to the main campus, the three adults following him quietly. He couldn't help but feel, though, that there was a great storm building up in the air…(-o-)
Grant stirred, white shining in his eyes. As he returned to wakefulness, he realized he was sitting in a hospital bed.
"Ugh, I hate hospitals.", he grumbled, "Did I flirt with the wrong girl again…"
Then memories of the tournament poured back into his head, primarily the Bidoof that wasn't. He jolted back up, eyes wide.
"What the heck happened!?", he cried.
"Oh look, you're finally awake.", groaned Tom Tom, sitting up on top of the bedside table, "You humans are so helpless. You can barely take a hit, and when you do it takes forever for you to heal from it. It is astonishing how you all managed to take over the world like that."
"Nice to see you too, Tom Tom.", groaned Grant. "What happened back there?"
Tom Tom answered, "We fought Avery, he sent out this crazy Bidoof that sent us spiraling through insanity. Honestly it felt very exhilarating - like the craziest drug trip ever."
"Do you even know what that feels like?", asked Grant.
Tom Tom stared at him in the eyes. "Look, we lived with a criminal organization. And the powders smelled very interesting."
"Okay I don't think I wanted to know that.", Grant muttered. He pressed a hand to his head, which was aching like crazy and felt like it was burning. "Guess I'm not going anywhere for a while, huh?"
Tom Tom nodded. "Alas. Apparently they disqualified Avery for knocking you out like this, although apparently he also completely disappeared. Funny, huh?"
Suddenly they heard footsteps rushing to the door, and it burst open to reveal Avery, his hair and clothes disheveled. He was panting for breath, and his eyes were wide.
"Well speak of the Houndoom. He reappears.", commented Tom Tom.
"You!?", Grant roared, "What did you do!? If I wasn't stuck here I would march right over there and punch you right now!"
Avery replied, "You don't understand. It wasn't me who did that to you. Sure, he might have looked like me, might have worn the same clothes as me, stole most of my team so he could fight like me, but it wasn't me."
"What the Distortion are you talking about?", asked Tom Tom.
Avery carefully slipped into the room and closed the door. "That kid you fought…it was a different me. An alternate me, from another dimension."
"Alternate dimensions?", asked Grant.
Avery explained, "Other versions of our world, that followed different paths and different rules. The most famous example is the Distortion Realm, the mirror image of this world and home to the dead."
"The Distortion Realm is a myth though.", Grant said, "A lie created by those who want to believe there's something beyond death other than transforming into a Ghost-type."
"Oh I assure you, it is very real.", Avery said, "And there are more. Infinite more. This Avery you fought - he came from one called the Omega Realm. A world taken over by an insidious infection unlike anything this world knows - yet."
Tom Tom frowned. "Explain."
"You can't seriously be believing this!", Grant cried.
Tom Tom rolled his eyes. "Look, just because you're too stubborn and stupid to accept everything isn't like Uncle X said doesn't mean it doesn't exist. We at least ought to hear the boy out."
Avery smiled softly. "Thank you. As I was saying, the other me came from the Omega Realm. The virus there, it drives everyone it infects to insanity. Additionally, it mutates their bodies, giving them horrific powers that break the laws of physics and allows them to transform into truly monstrous and powerful forms. And it affects both humans and Pokemon, in devastating ways."
Tom Tom frowned. "That sounds like your Bidoof, alright."
Avery shook his head. "Other me's Bidoof. While mine is extraordinary, it isn't like that one at all. But anyways, I haven't hit the worst part yet. Everything from the Omega Realm is attracted to and obeys the orders of the virus's host - Viroxys. And it is watching us, studying us, hoping to corrupt this world just like it corrupted its own."
He closed his eyes and sighed. "A few days before the tournament, right after I signed up and everything, other me appeared from this creepy green portal. He knocked me out, declaring that Viroxys had sent him to invade this tournament in search of a worthy victim to receive the virus's power. Then he stole all my Pokemon but my Bidoof, invaded this tournament, and well…you know what happened next. Clearly he found you as his worthy victim."
Grant thought over this for a while, which was hard as his headache was messing with his mind.
"I don't feel like I received any special power.", he said.
Avery shrugged. "Let's hope so. Nothing from Viroxys is gonna be good for anyone."
Tom Tom put a paw to his chin. "Hmmm…for some reason the name Viroxys sounds kinda familiar…like a Pokemon I read about once."
Grant noticed his headache getting worse. He laid back in his bed and closed his eyes, puzzling over what Avery had said. Much as he hated to admit it, the revelations Avery had dropped made an alarming amount of sense. It wasn't exactly something someone could come up with right on the spot.
"So you two believe me?", asked Avery, his voice quivering.
"For now, I guess so.", Tom Tom said, "I don't really know what to think though. Evil viruses, carried by people from another dimension? It's a lot to take in."
Avery nodded. "It was hard for me to believe, too. But it's true, and it's only getting worse. I need all the help I can get stopping it, before it gets too strong and fully breaks into our world."
Tom Tom crossed his arms. "I see. Unfortunately, there's a sliiiight problem. That Bidoof completely one-shot us. And if what you say is true, that's just one of potentially thousands of Pokemon. We'd be about as effective as a Charmander trying to kill the ocean."
"If not us, who will?", asked Avery, "Far as I know, we're the only ones who have faced it. We're the only ones who know what threat it truly poses. We can't just sit by and let it infect our world!"
As the Meowth and Avery continued arguing, Grant felt his headache growing stronger and stronger. The room started spinning, a sickly green growing out of the corners of his vision. The silhouette of a horrifying humanoid Pokemon grew into his vision, tentacles spiraling off it like the branches of some awful bush. Piercing eyes stared into him, reading his mind, body, and soul.
"I…see…you…", it hissed, its voice creepy and inhuman, the words of an alien beyond human comprehension. Grant tried to look away from it, to escape its grasp, but was failing.
"Now…see…my…POWER."
And suddenly Grant was elsewhere, watching another scene unfurl. (-o-)
"Are you sure this is a good idea?", asked Victor.
Daniel turned and shrugged. "Probably not. But it's not like I'm leaving Taylor here. I don't know why they won't let me see him, but I am certainly about to find out."
Victor replied, "Oh well. But if we get in trouble, I'll have told you so."
"And with my connections, I can squirrel us out of trouble very easily.", Daniel replied, "As such, there's really nothing to worry about."
"Other than the reason they're quarantining him.", muttered Victor, pulling a mask up over his face.
Currently they were standing outside a back window of the hospital, located next to the Pokemon Center but meant for humans and more serious injuries. Many of the windows had lights shining out of them, but the ones near Victor and Daniel were dark.
"Are you sure Taylor is in this ward?", asked Victor.
"One of the Medical students told me.", Daniel said, "They weren't allowed to help tend to him, but they knew this was the place. Do you have the tools?"
"Of course.", Victor said, "But I still don't agree this is a good idea."
Daniel scoffed. "You've been saying that for the last two hours. Come on, hand them over."
Victor sighed, passing over what looked like a screwdriver. But when Daniel pressed it against the window, thin metal filaments stretched out, weaving through the cracks and unlatching it. Daniel lifted the screwdriver, opening the window silently.
"This is a really nifty gadget Victor. Mind if I keep it?", asked Daniel.
Victor held out his hand.
"Ah, you're no fun.", sighed Daniel. He detached the screwdriver and placed it in Victor's hand. Victor slipped it into his pack, and the two boys slipped through the window and into the dark room.
They noticed immediately something was wrong. The bed and equipment in here was smashed, papers littered the floor, and a suspicious dark stain was splattered against the wall. A strange sweet, musky scent filled the air, one none of them recognized.
"Well…this isn't creepy at all.", commented Daniel.
Victor had a Pokeball in one hand and his knife in the other. "Something's wrong here. Keep on your guard. It might have something to do with why no one wants you to see Taylor."
"You mean something attacked him?", asked Daniel, "Maybe the Pikachu came back for revenge?"
Victor said cryptically, "Possibly. But I suspect something else happened. Something none of us could understand."
The two carefully navigated the mess, Victor's armor somehow not making a sound. A cold wind rustled through the chamber, throwing around a few white leaves. Daniel grabbed one, studying it curiously.
"Huh. This isn't from any form of tree I know.", he observed, "I'll have to study it more closely." He slipped it into his pocket.
They reached the door, which was dangling off one hinge and had been nearly smashed in half. The strange scent was stronger here, and there were more leaves scattered down the cold white hallway. A couple lights flickered dimly above, but most had been neatly punctured by something.
"What in the Distortion happened here?", grumbled Victor.
They noticed more stains on the walls. Now that they had a little more light, they realized it wasn't quite human blood. It was a weird reddish-green, and the two boys realized something very wrong was going on here.
"Hmm…judging from how it's splattered, it looks like something was dragged against the wall. It's too high up to be a corpse, so I think whatever attacked was injured and got too weak to continue. Hence why no one saw it leaving.", Daniel stated.
"Or maybe…", Victor said darkly, "It's still here. Maybe in one of the other rooms, or roaming the hallways."
"Maybe it fainted.", Daniel suggested, "Or it bled out and died. No need to be so pessimistic."
"Always prepare for the worst.", Victor said.
"And hope for the best.", added Daniel, "That's also in the saying. Hope for the best and prepare for the worst."
"Hmph.", was Victor's only reply.
They continued down the hallway, peeking in each of the rooms. Each one had been ransacked, but there was no sign of what could have done it besides those bloodstains and the white leaves. But soon, they started hearing ragged breathing, coming from a nearby bathroom. Victor looked down the hallway near it and noticed that it had been sealed in by a thick metal door. The doctors had successfully locked in the creature.
But this also meant any escape routes were limited.
Daniel and Victor crept closer to the breathing, carefully walking into the bathroom. The blood was spilled all over the floor, and the white leaves were scattered everywhere. But where they touched the blood, the leaves had turned a brilliant, radioactive green. Daniel carefully grabbed one of those too, with gloves on for obvious reasons.
They then walked into the bathroom itself, where they saw Taylor lying next to one of the stalls. The breathing was coming from him, and Victor noticed he had bandaged his torso and arm. Taylor's clothes were ripped all over, and it looked like he had been in a rough fight.
"Taylor?", whispered Daniel, face pale, "Are you alright?"
"Hunter…?", Taylor groaned.
"Yes, it's me.", Daniel said reassuringly, "Have you been stuck here this whole time? Where's the Pokemon that attacked you?"
Taylor shifted around. "The Pokemon that attacked me? What Pokemon? No…the gift…it was a gift."
Daniel frowned. "Gift? What gift?"
"It whispers to me.", Taylor said, staring at the floor, "It tells me things. It teaches me its power. It cares for me."
"What are you talking about?", asked Daniel.
Taylor shifted around, revealing a cut on his leg. A cut dripping reddish-green blood.
"Daniel…", Victor warned.
Daniel noticed too, his eyes widening with shock and horror.
"It tells me to share it. To share the gift." Taylor looked up, his eyes suffused with a red glow. "I will heed its command. Hail Viroxys."
"Daniel, get back!", shouted Victor.
Taylor suddenly lunged forwards, his eyes glimmering with madness. He swiped at Victor, his fingers cracking and stretching into wooden, bony claws. Victor clicked the button on his right gauntlet, unfurling his shield and blocking Taylor's attack. Taylor's claws tore down the shield, making a horrific screeching sound like nails on chalkboard.
Taylor made an inhuman snarl, his skin rippling and hardening into black bark. "You must not resist!", he screeched, his voice wavering and echoing, "All will accept the gift and be filled with unfathomable power!"
"Yeah, not interested!", shouted Victor, ramming a fist into the side of Taylor's head and throwing him into the sink, shattering it. Water started spraying out, and as he watched Taylor started licking it up greedily. His bones creaked and snapped, his spine extending and long protrusions stretching out of his back and sides. His fingers were unnaturally long now, and as he staggered back up his feet were revealed to have transformed into thick tree roots.
"What in the name of Arceus!?", screamed Daniel.
Victor narrowed his eyes, as Taylor's face stretched into a grotesque toothy maw, his hair turning into thick strands of moss. Taylor screamed an ungodly cry, and stomped towards Victor, rattling the floor. Victor smacked away his grasping talons, seemingly unfazed by the horrifying transformation.
The protrusions had turned into branches now, all carrying the white leaves. A long tail slithered its way between Taylor's legs, splitting into six grasping vines. Glowing green spikes ripped through Taylor's skin, as the sweet musky smell filled the room, threatening to choke them out. Victor pulled his mask up tighter and continued the fight.
The tree monster that had once been Taylor lunged, its tails lashing out and wrapping around Victor's legs. He hacked at them with his knife, splattering blood everywhere. But it was like the monster couldn't feel pain, and the vines crept up, growing tighter and tighter.
"Take the gift!", it rasped, "Take it!"
Victor yelled defiantly, tearing away at the vines and wriggling free. The monster tried to grab him, but at that moment there was the sound of shattering glass. Daniel had ran out, broken out the fire axe, and ran back in, hacking away at Taylor as tears of anger and desperation poured down his face.
"Taylor! Taylor, I know you can hear me! Don't let it control you!", Daniel cried, "Don't - don't make me hurt you!"
The tree laughed a hideous, screeching laugh. "I can hear you. Don't worry, once it takes you you'll learn. You'll learn how wonderful this is."
"Taylor, please! Please snap out of it!", Daniel cried, cutting down the vines gripping Victor.
"There is nothing to snap out of!", Taylor shouted, "This power…it is so wonderful! There is no pain, only strength! Viroxys is a strong leader, a wonderful leader. Once you taste his gift, you'll understand. You'll all understand."
Daniel replied, "No, you don't understand! You're trying to attack your own friends! This virus thing, it's controlling you!"
"It is controlling me. It is wonderful!", Taylor cried, "It has a true vision of what this world could be, what it must be! Help me Daniel! Together we could be unstoppable!"
"I will not serve this virus Pokemon thing!", shouted Daniel, now hacking away at the main body, blood and bark splattering everywhere. Victor was helping him, and slowly they were bringing Taylor down.
"But you will!", Taylor screamed, "You all will! I have seen it - it has shown me! It is inevitable!"
Daniel took out one of his legs, and Taylor fell over, laughing hysterically. "Come on, that won't stop me! That won't stop it! The gift is inevitable, unstoppable! Just let it take you!"
Daniel slipped something out of his belt. Victor realized it was an Ultra Ball. Daniel gulped, and cried, "I don't want to do this! Please, resist it! Resist Viroxys!"
Taylor laughed. "Never!"
"Then you leave me no choice!"
Daniel threw the Pokeball, which to Victor's astonishment sucked up Taylor like any other Pokemon. It hit the floor, shook once, twice, three times, then dinged cheerfully.
The two stared at it for some time in shocked silence. Then Daniel picked up the Pokeball and tucked it away.
"We need to act on this.", he said, "That Pikachu, I thought it was just some curious phenomenon that could be easily dealt with. But this? This is serious."
Victor noticed he was crying. "We can't let anyone else get infected like Taylor. We have to warn them. We have to fight it."
Victor asked, "Will anyone even believe this?"
Daniel looked at the Pokeball. "We have evidence.", he whispered.
They stood silently for a bit longer.
"It's late.", Daniel said, wiping the tears off his face. "Tomorrow. We'll tell them tomorrow."
Victor nodded solemnly.
"Let's go.", whispered Daniel.
And then Grant's vision snapped back to his room, Tom Tom and Avery staring at him with a mix of fear and worry.
"Grant…", Avery whispered, "You, it, uh…"
"Kid, you got a green eye on your forehead.", Tom Tom said bluntly.
Grant froze. He pressed a hand against his head…
And screamed. (-o-)
AN: Well, that was an epic way to finish things off! Many plot revelations this chapter, and it's only scaling up from here! There may be a bonus chapter before I vanish for three months, and after that the tournament will continue. Once again I thank you all for sticking with this story so long, and hope you all will continue to follow it to the very end!
As a little reward, here's a little something extra for you all…(-o-)
Far away, deep beneath a mountain in a broken desert, someone shifted. He had been sleeping here for quite some time, his servants quietly working around him, building defenses, connections, tracking down the few left of their kind.
If he was awake now, it could only mean one thing.
"Is it time?", he whispered, his voice hoarse from years of slumber, focusing his power around the globe.
"Soon.", purred a voice, the voice of an ancient dragoness, sealed away by her brethren millennia ago for daring to challenge her father's ways. "Everything is coming together. Soon, we will both be free, to do what should've been done oh so long ago."
He felt the air grow colder. "But first, we must get more power. There is a place, out at sea away from Kanto and the rest of the world. There are more of us there, with power to rival even you. I have sent a spy there already. But we must do more. We must bring them into our fold."
The man nodded. "Do what you wish. I am still stretched, still weary. Two more months. Can we bring them here in two months?"
The dragon hissed softly. "If they are willing. And if they are not…"
The man smiled cruelly. "We have our methods."
He laid back down. "Send Lady Tenara my way, if you would. Then get those last of our brethren. Bring them here."
The dragon chuckled coldly.
"As you wish, Maxwell Goetia." (-o-)